Robinson Animal Health Care

ANIMALINTEX:

FIRST AID ESSENTIAL

RRP: around £5.50.

Animalintex is a poultice and wound care dressing that is licenced by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD), meaning it is strictly controlled to ensure efficacy, safety and consistency.

As a licenced product it can be used to treat a wide range of conditions, including a number of common ailments affecting horses. Highly absorbent, it is extremely versatile and can be applied either as a wet, hot or cold poultice, or as a dry dressing, to suit the needs of the injury. It contains an antiseptic to clean and prevent re-infection and natural poulticing agent, Tragacanth, which, when it reacts with water, draws out any infection and creates a clean area for the wound to heal. When applied as a hot, wet poultice Animalintex increases the blood supply to the injured area, providing more oxygen, and white blood cells, which fight infection. The improved blood flow reduces the swelling, whilst the warmth of the poultice relieves the animal of pain, providing comfort. Cold, wet poulticing can be refrigerated before application if necessary, and is recommended for use on sprains and strains, rather than on cuts. Use Animalintex dry for pressure padding after a lot of hard work to prevent or relieve inflammation. It can also be applied directly to a wound as an absorbent dry dressing. Animalintex is sold in a 41cm x 21cm dressing, which can be cut to the size and shape needed.

www.robinsonanimal healthcare.com

ANIMALINTEX LEADING RIDER AWARD

An innovative new leading rider award will be presented at The Eventing Spring Carnival at Thoresby Park. Running 1st to 3rd April the event will host the Animalintex Leading Rider Award which will run over the three days and lead to a grand finale climax and prize giving.

Points will be awarded for the top six placings in all classes across the event with daily updates on the leaderboard as to which riders are out in front. The top three riders will each receive cash prizes and the overall winner will be presented with the Leading Rider Trophy.

WIN!

FOUR LUCKY READERS TO WIN A POULTICE KIT!

In this issue we have teamed up with Robinson Animal Healthcare to give away a poultice kit, with four kits up for grabs. The kit contains everything you need to treat an infected wound or that unexpected abscess, including a pack of Animalintex, a pack of Animalintex Hoof Treatment and four Equiwrap Cohesive Bandages. Animalintex is extremely versatile and can be applied either as a wet, hot or cold poultice, or as a dry dressing, depending on the wound or injury type. It contains two active ingredients, Boric Acid to kill infection and promote faster healing, and Tragacanth, a natural poulticing agent to draw out dirt and infection and reduce inflammation. Animalintex Hoof Treatment is designed specifically for foot poulticing. Each dressing is hoof-shaped for application directly to the hoof, making it both economic and convenient. Equiwrap Cohesive Bandages are ideal for securing Animalintex in place. A powerful flexible bandage that sticks to itself, Equiwrap is made from elasticated crepe that is easy to tear by hand.

www.robinsonanimalhealthcare.com

To enter: Visit www.absolutehorse magazine.com and click on the Competitions page. Entries open 1st March and close 30th April 2022.

IN HORSES

Collecting an ultrasound-guided liver biopsy from a sedated pony

We have seen a number of horses with liver disease at the hospital in recent months, and in a number of cases we have identified herd mates that are affected subclinically as well.

Signs of liver disease can be difficult to spot, and the liver typically has lost more than 80% of its function by the time the horse shows clinical signs of liver disease. Commonly reported symptoms include weight loss, reduced appetite, lethargy, and jaundice. Other signs that may not initially be associated with liver disease are photosensitisation (marked skin inflammation occurring when non-pigmented skin is exposed to UV light), gastric impaction, and unusual neurological signs such as frequent yawning and chewing, and laryngeal paralysis resulting in respiratory tract obstruction. Investigating liver disease usually starts with blood tests which identify markers of liver damage and allow us to estimate whether liver function is affected. Following this, an ultrasound scan and liver biopsies are the next step. Liver biopsies are a low-risk procedure that can be performed under standing sedation that allow us to investigate the potential cause of liver disease, develop an appropriate treatment plan, and provide more accurate information for each individual case regarding prognosis. Potential causes of liver disease include exposure to toxic plants, mycotoxins in feed, parasite damage, and bacterial or viral infection. If one horse is found to have liver disease, we usually recommend checking their herd mates for evidence of liver damage too. Often, others in the herd are identified as affected on blood work, despite appearing to have no signs of disease. This helps us to establish whether an environmental toxin is responsible, and therefore helps with ongoing management. Increasingly, we are testing forage for mycotoxins when we identify these herd outbreaks, allowing us to improve the health of all the animals on the premises and minimise the chances of disease progressing. Additionally, although our understanding of viruses causing hepatitis in horses is still quite limited, there is increasing information about parvovirus and hepacivirus (similar to human hepatitis C) as research in this area gathers momentum. It is likely in the near future that we will be able to begin applying this knowledge to clinical cases and testing is likely to become more widespread.

Article supplied by:

Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge

www.vet.cam.ac.uk

SHAPING THE FUTURE OF SAFETY

The British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA) has launched a new way of collecting and recording information relating to accidents and injuries. The new Rider Accident & Equipment Reporting Form, which is available to anyone experiencing an accident and injury around horses, is part of the association’s continued drive to help make equestrian sport safer.

The Rider Accident & Equipment Reporting Form can be accessed via a web link or by QR code, and is widely published both through BETA retail members, equipment manufacturers and on social media. The QR code is quick to scan from a phone, helping to make it more accessible to busy riders. The form is also easy fill in and allows BETA to collect additional information surrounding accidents to help inform design and protection development of safety equipment moving forward.

www.beta-uk.org

RACEHORSE FARRIER:

SHARES THE VIRTUES OF FORMAHOOF FOR THOROUGHBRED FEET

Every OTTB (off the track thoroughbred) owner knows how challenging thoroughbred feet can be, with endless searching for solutions to provide support and comfort.

The three-dimensional fit of the FormaHoof system is offering a new approach to hoof management that is proving extraordinarily successful for OTTB’s, and TB feet in general! Sven Targett – a specialist racehorse farrier – has been using FormaHoof for nearly twelve months now and is so impressed with the results that many of his TB ‘customers’ are now managed in FormaHoof. “I’ve been a Farrier for the last 15-years and my quest to find new and better technologies to help cope with the challenges of TB feet led me to FormaHoof. It’s a total game changer when it comes to managing TB feet. “The most common hoof problems of TB horses are conformation faults. The pressure high-performance work puts on those horses’ feet often causes their heels to collapse, which can result in long-toes and thin soles, also called flat tyres. Horses are ending their racing careers in discomfort with flat, crushed heels, negative palmer/planter angles and a complete breakdown in how their feet function. However, FormaHoof gives us an effective and consistent solution to get their feet back in shape, increasing their comfort and often helping them to go on and enjoy a second riding career after racing.” Farriers such as Sven are taught how to support and protect the overall function of the foot, but have found it increasingly difficult to re-boot the caudal aspect of the foot. This often ends in expensive therapeutic shoeing packages for the rest of the working life of the horse. Sven explains how FormaHoof can help: “FormaHoof gives us the option to help horses to recover the function of their feet. The three-dimensional fit of the FormaHoof system allows us to offload the loading structures of the feet, giving us the best ability to realign the bony column and effect better blood supply to the foot. This gives the horse’s body the best chance to re-grow the heel structure and suspension system for the foot.” The unique, patented, liquid fit FormaHoof moulding process creates a non-invasive, three dimensional, protective and supportive overlay on the horse’s hoof. By recreating the form of a perfectly healthy, balanced hoof, FormaHoof delivers immediate results, assisting farriers in the fight against a multitude of hoofrelated disorders, from Laminitis and White Line Disease to Hoof Cracks, High-Low Syndrome and Foal Limb Deformities. Sven continues: “Although at first glance FormaHoof may appear expensive as a treatment option when compared to most remedial shoeing packages, in the long term it offers a massive financial saving. In my experience, FormaHoof allows the owner to literally half their shoeing cost over the rest of the working life of an ”off the track“ racehorse. “FormaHoof is already approved for racing in the UK in combination with a regular plate. FormaHoof doesn’t need to be a forever solution, but it provides effective support to horses through their journey towards healthy feet.”

www.FormaHoof.com

Before FormaHoof After FormaHoof

WHY IS THERE A SURGE IN HORSE TRAILER THEFT?

AND HOW CAN IT BE TACKLED?

Before trailer towing rules came into force in the UK last December, abolishing the requirement of a test for many new trailer drivers, demand for new and used horse trailers was strong. The rule change is attracting an increased number of new, young trailer drivers which, coupled with a scarcity of horse trailers, is fueling a surge in horse trailer theft.

With this recent increase in trailer theft, owners are being encouraged to be extra vigilant. Any delay between the theft of a trailer and it being reported to the police can prove costly. Treve Jenkin, Data Protection Officer at trailer and plant checking company, The Equipment Register said: “A problem we frequently encounter with horse trailer theft is that people park them up at the yard or stables, and particularly at this time of the year with the short days, they do not notice straightaway that their trailer has been stolen. A horse trailer that has been gone for several days could have been sold on, sometimes even twice, before it is reported as stolen.” SEIB Insurance Brokers Deputy Chairman, Barry Fehler said: “If a trailer is purchased that is later identified as stolen, the purchaser is liable to return the trailer to its rightful owner. We work closely with the police and theft tracking companies and the information they hold on stolen trailers. By reporting the theft of a trailer quickly, it dramatically increases the chance of it being successfully returned to its rightful owner. Having the correct insurance in place provides peace of mind for our customers.” We spoke to a main Ifor Williams dealership who confirmed that a lengthy wait on delivery of a new Ifor Williams trailer is now commonplace. The dealer was unable to confirm the exact price that would be payable on completion of the purchase of a new trailer owing to a scarcity of materials and regular rises in prices. The prospect of purchasing an approved secondhand trailer from the dealer seemed an outside chance, although a number was diligently taken down; just in case. Valerie Isted runs Equinity Trailer Hire. The company is experiencing unprecedented demand for the time of year. Valerie said: “People are struggling to buy trailers on the private market and are increasingly hiring them instead. Demand for trailer hire is huge at the moment for both long and short-term arrangements. We currently have forty-six trailers out on hire and a waiting list of eleven. I am trying to purchase further Ifor Williams trailers and supply is a real issue.” The market is moving so fast, it is commonplace to put a deposit down before going to even see a trailer. Valerie continued: “Buyers need to be really careful when sending a deposit for a trailer they have seen online or on social media before going to see it. There are plenty of people out there that will take the money and be gone.” Treve Jenkin confirmed that over the past twelve months 3.8 out of every ten trailer checks run by his company has confirmed a problem. Treve added: "If the trailer doesn't have a VIN plate, or it has been filed clear - don't buy it. Also, all trailers manufactured in the last few years will have been supplied with a certificate of conformity. If this is not available, to me, it would signal that something is not right.”

VOTE NOW!

Nominations are open for the 2022 SEIB Insurance Brokers Yard of the Year Awards. These awards have been set up to celebrate excellence in competition, teaching, training and horse care. SEIB have teamed up with Horse & Hound to help provide recognition for the top yards across the country. The categories are: small riding school, best large riding school, best full livery yard, best do-it-yourself (DIY) livery yard, best Riding for the Disabled (RDA) riding school and there is a category for competition venues. www.seib.co.uk/yard-awards

REHOMING RECORDS: SMASHED

World Horse Welfare is celebrating a record total of 378 horses and ponies rehomed during 2021. This smashes the previous record of 357 rehomed by the charity in 2020 and continues a positive trend of more people offering horses and ponies a new home and a new life.

Rehabilitation and rehoming are the eventual goals for all the equines that come into the care of the charity which has four Rescue and Rehoming Centres across Britain. Tony Tyler, Deputy Chief Executive at World Horse Welfare said: “It is our aim to rehome all the horses and ponies that come into our care once they are fit and ready. Each one that is rehomed helps two horses as it releases a space at our farms for another equine in need but none of this could happen without our incredible rehomers who offer them a vital second chance. “Anyone rehoming one of our horses or ponies not only receives the full honest facts about them and a lifetime of support, but the

Equine welfare charity celebrates a record-breaking year

rewards of knowing that they are giving that horse perhaps its first ever loving home - while making space for another vulnerable horse to receive the care it needs.” World Horse Welfare retains ownership of every horse or pony that comes into its care for the rest of their lives, meaning there is no danger of them once again becoming welfare cases. Importantly, it also means that rehomers have the reassurance that if their circumstances change, the rehomed horse can always be returned to World Horse Welfare.

www.worldhorsewelfare.org

RECORD-BREAKING REHOMING YEAR FOR REDWINGS

Redwings Horse Sanctuary has achieved another record-breaking year for its rehoming scheme, with more rescued horses and ponies than ever finding new loving homes outside the Sanctuary.

In 2021, the teams at Redwings rehomed 128 ponies to new Guardians, up over 50% on 2020’s total of 84. As the charity continues its frontline welfare work throughout the pandemic, it has offered a safe home to 132 rescued horses and donkeys in need of their care and veterinary expertise, meaning that for the first time the charity was on course to rehome one horse for every horse rescued in 2021. Rachel Angell, Redwings’ Head of Norfolk Equine Operations, who heads up the rehoming scheme, said: “As the Sanctuary has been operating at capacity for many years, this milestone is an important one, and emphasizes that one of the most important ways we can continue to help more horses in need is to try and make space through rehoming. “2021’s record figure is a testament to the hard work of our teams throughout the Sanctuary who work tirelessly to rehabilitate our rescued horses, so they can

Native pony Galena was one of 35 ponies rescued by Redwings from a site in Norfolk in 2009.

go on to enjoy lives in Guardian homes.”

www.redwings.org.uk/rehoming

ELDERLY SHETLAND PONIES: REHOMED

Three Shetland ponies have been rehomed at Remus Horse Sanctuary in Essex. Damson (38years-old) and mother of April (32-years-old) and aunt to Mopsey (36-years-old) will be cared for at the Sanctuary and receive medication to manage their ailments.

The previous owner, an elderly lady who was struggling to look after the ponies and her own sickly mother at the same time, contacted Remus founder Sue Burton to see if the charity could help. “It broke her heart to part with them, but she had the strength to make the right decision by them and let them come to Remus,” said Sue. www.remussanctuary.org/donate